Does Buddah create an unhealthy body image?

Question

In real life he would probably be very overweight with many health complications, is this really a example to set?

Plus, what an ample set of moobs he does have on him!

I apologise for the wording of my question, I meant to say "Is this a good example to set?"

Oh and "old git", you have just tried to correct my grammar by writing "spell it right buddah" since when did that make grammatical sense?

Answer 1

It depends on which Buddha you are talking about. There have been many, many Buddha's

Read the information below, with an open mind, and you'll be educated to the truth.

The "Fat buddha" is not THE Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and strictly speaking the statue is not an idol.Buddha means "one who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment" and there are several people who have been given the title. Siddhartha lived from around B.C. 560 to B.C. 480, it
was not until around 127 BC that statues actually depicting him became prevalent. Before that, and still today, statues of the Bodhi Tree and other objects associated with his life were common. Of course by then nobody knew what he really looked like, he was from a noble family and had been described as tall, slender, and of "manly build", but that may have been just because that is what people expected "Nobles" to look like, we still expect that today, few movie heroes are short and squat. And the image of a fat overfed Buddha didn't fit with his teachings, and an "enlightened one" might be so enlightened as to disregard material needs like eating, probably not to the extent of the Hindu mystics but probably influenced by them. The style of the statues was influenced by the various cultures that influenced all culture in the sub-continent (India), Greek styles early on, then Roman, Persian and others. And by the cultures in areas where his teachings spread, and now we finally get to the Fat buddha. Buddhism reached China around 100AD, and was wide spread there by 600AD. And we get three theories on Fat buddha, each one probably reinforced the others over time. First the physical image of a Noble was different as was the concept of the results of enlightenment, a Noble was not athletic or a warrior, but a well fed person of leisure. Enlightenment led to material success and wealth and a position at least very close to nobility. And a belief that fat men were inherently benevolent , similar to the "jolly fat man", Jolly Ol' St. Nick for example. Just as baseball players still try to rub a red headed players head for luck, people tried to rub a fat man's belly in hopes of luck and ample meals.
"Then there is the story of a Chinese Buddhist monk in the 6th century, who just happened to have a belly that shook like jelly, he was a benevolent fellow who dedicated himself to helping others, and was regarded as the incarnation of the Boddhisatva Metteya, who had reached nirvana but stayed around just to help people."
And finally the theory held by most Buddhist scholars. "A sagely Zen monk appeared in China around 850 A.D. and died in 916A.D. He said his name was "Knowing This" (ChiChe). No one knew where he came from, he carried a big fat bag and was famous for his fat belly. When asked how to obtain nirvana he would lay down the bag and not said a word. When asked about what happened after reaching nirvana. he would pick up the bag and walk away, still not a word. It is pretty much accepted that such a monk existed. 'HE is the inspiration for Fat buddha, as the statues began appearing in the late 800's, 1200 years after the Gautama's death. If you'll look at an authentic Fat buddha, you'll see he has a sack on his back, in fact his names include Hotei, Pu-Tai AND Mi-Le-Fo (Cloth Sack.) Then again the appearance of the statues may have influenced the legend of, or the actual, monk.' "

Buddhists are very forgiving, and Very Patient people toward ALL people, whether they are Atheist, as we are, or not.

You did ask An Excellent Question.
And I Gave You a STAR.
Have a Great Weekend.

From: Consider the Ant, See its Ways, to be
Wise.

Answer 2

There are many depictions of the Buddha and only one specific type is fat. That would be Budai or Hotei, also known as the laughing Buddha.

It should be noted that this is not meant to be a depiction of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, but, rather, the Bodhisattva Maitreya, the predicted Buddha who would succeed Gautama Buddha.

This character has been adopted beyond Buddhism and has been incorporated into Taoist and Shinto culture as well.

Rubbing his tummy is supposed to bring luck.

Answer 3

That is the fat Buddah and yes I agree with you. the fat Buddah was just sitting there meditating and munching the whole time. not even like the sumo wrestlers. at least these ones exercise a lot.

But spirituality is above body image and maybe he needed some confort foot to be able to bear the idea of being enlighted among close minded people... must be depressive to try to explain to the masses the concept of Nirvana without having the feeling people are looking at us thinking this guy has lost it...

Answer 4

No more unhealthy than the string-bean skinny models who feel they are splurging when they allow themselves TWO carrots for the day. Or the shallow celebrities (and others) who inject themselves with collagen and silicone and cut and scrape off other parts all in the name of "beauty". Those things don't set the example for a healthy body image either - not to mention what that thought process does to people's mental/emotional image of themselves.

Okay, I'm done with my rant. Carry on.

Answer 5

If you understood buddah.
You would know that buddah can be seen in a male or female or another image alltogether.Its the image of choice like the old man with a white beard is the christian image of god.

Answer 6

Yes. What can I say- I'm a product of society. I lost a lot of weight a few years ago so physically I'm in shape. But mentally I think I'm always going to be a fat kid.

Answer 7

the depiction of buddha varies from culture, the buddha everyone refers to is usually the one of Asian cultural influence, Buddhism originated in India and if you look at Buddha statues in India, Nepal or Sri lanka, Buddha is a very skinny man, I think you're looking at the Asian interpretation of the fat statue too superficially

Answer 8

That is just an artist's depiction. In real life he was against over or undereating. He followed the "middle path".

Answer 9

All I'm going to say is that is not what Buddah is about.

Answer 10

If you are trying to be clever you have failed miserably. Go away and read a little. Spell it right "Buddha", or Siddartha Gautama, if you ever get to the library.